Weapon sight

ABSTRACT

A sighting apparatus includes a ring attached to a base, a first vertical element extending upward from the base, the first element having a first end attached to the base, and a second vertical element suspended within the ring by a first end. The apparatus is configured such that aligning a second end of the first vertical element with a second end of the second vertical element provides sighting for a weapon.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/531,309 filed Mar. 20, 2000.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] This invention relates generally to sighting of weapons, and more specifically to, sights for weapons.

[0003] Weapon sights have been around for a long period of time. Most known sighting combinations employ a pin and a slot. The pin and slot are normally mounted a distance apart in a front sight and rear sight combination that makes up a sighting apparatus. The pin may be circular or rectangular in cross section and in elevation it may be tapered towards the top. The pin may also be used end on, i.e. in silhouette to appear as a disk or rectangle.

[0004] The pin is normally used with one of the following shapes, a wedge shape, a rectangular slot, a symmetrical open shape functioning in a similar manner to the wedge and slot, and a disk. The disk may either be ring shaped or a sighting hole in an opaque surface.

[0005] A commonality among all the above described elements is that they share the same datum or base, i.e., the barrel of the weapon. The aiming point on the wedge and the rectangle occurs on the upper surface. However the aiming point for the disk is within the disk.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0006] In one aspect, a sighting apparatus is provided which comprises a ring attached to a base, a first vertical element extending upward from the base, the first element having a first end attached to the base, and a second vertical element suspended within the ring by a first end. The apparatus is configured such that aligning a second end of the first vertical element with a second end of the second vertical element provides sighting for a weapon.

[0007] In another aspect, a method of sighting a weapon is provided which comprises aligning an end of a first element with a target and adjusting a horizontal position of the weapon until an end of a second element aligns with the end of the first element.

[0008] In still another aspect, a sighting element is provided which comprises a ring mounted on a base, a sighting element suspending vertically downward within the ring, and an elevation adjust within the ring. The adjust is configured with an adjusting member to raise and lower the sighting element within the ring.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009]FIG. 1 illustrates a gun with a traditional two element iron sight.

[0010]FIG. 2 illustrates several known iron sight front elements.

[0011]FIG. 3 illustrates several known iron sight back elements.

[0012]FIG. 4 illustrates a two element sighting apparatus.

[0013]FIG. 5 illustrates an alternative two element sighting apparatus.

[0014]FIG. 6 illustrates a further alternative two element sighting apparatus.

[0015]FIG. 7 illustrates one element of a sighting apparatus.

[0016]FIG. 8 illustrates an adjustable sighting apparatus element.

[0017]FIG. 9 is a side view of the ring of the sighting apparatus of FIG. 7 and 8.

[0018]FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the sighting elements of FIGS. 7 and 8.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0019]FIG. 1 illustrates a gun 10 with a traditional two element iron sighting apparatus. A back sight 12 or element is typically mounted at or near a stock 14 of gun 10. A front sight 16 or element is mounted at or near the front of barrel 18. Iron sights are silhouettes and aligning one silhouette, for example, front sight 16 within a second silhouette, for example, back sight 12, is one way to aim gun 10. To aim gun 10, the aligned silhouettes are viewed when optically aligned with a target. With such known sighting systems the target either sits on top of a surface or is contained within a surface. Attempting to contain the target within a surface inevitably leads to diameter dimensional problems in poor light conditions.

[0020]FIG. 2 shows several known front sight elements. Front sight elements include, in various known embodiments, a pin element 30, a disk element 32, and a wedge element 34. FIG. 3 shows several known back sight elements. Back sight elements include a V-notch element 40, a U-notch element 42, a ring 44, and a hole 46. Both front and back elements are mounted on a base (not shown) and aligned as a shooter looks through the sights. For example, pin element 30 may be configured to fill in notch 48 of U-notch element 42, as gun 10 is aimed at a target, notch 48 and pin element 30 being optically aligned with the target.

[0021]FIG. 4 illustrates a two element sighting apparatus 100. Sighting apparatus 100 includes a pin element 102 including a first end 104 for mounting, and a second end 106 for sighting. Sighting apparatus 100 also includes a pointed element 108 suspended by a first end 110 within a ring 112. Pointed element 108 also includes a second end 114 for sighting. Pointed element 108, in one embodiment is tapered and second end 114 is in the form of a pointed tip. Silhouette 116 is a view presented to a shooter when apparatus 100 is properly aimed. When properly aimed, second end 106 of pin 102 and second end 114 of pointed element 108 appear to meet and “squeeze” the target.

[0022]FIG. 5 illustrates another two element sighting apparatus 130. Sighting apparatus 130 includes a blunt point element 132 including a first end 134 for mounting, and a second end 136 for sighting. Sighting apparatus 100 also includes a pointed element 108 as described in FIG. 4. Silhouette 138 is a view presented to a shooter when apparatus 100 is properly aimed. When properly aimed, second end 136 of pin 132 and second end 114 of pointed element 108 appear to meet.

[0023]FIG. 6 illustrates still another two element sighting apparatus 150. Sighting apparatus 150 includes two pointed elements 108 including first end 110 for mounting and second end 114 for sighting. Silhouette 138 is a view presented to a shooter when apparatus 100 is properly aimed. When properly aimed, second ends 114 of pins 108 appear to meet.

[0024] Referring to FIGS. 4, 5, and 6, and in one embodiment, the element within ring 112 is mounted at the front of gun 10. In an alternative embodiment, the element within ring 112 is mounted at the back of gun 10. In addition, it is to be understood that embodiments exist where both sighting elements are mounted within rings similar to ring 112, one element “pointing up” in a first ring, and a second element “pointing down” within a second ring.

[0025]FIG. 7 illustrates a portion 170 of a sighting apparatus mounted on a base 172. Portion 170 includes element 132 (shown in FIG. 5) and is shown to illustrate mounting of a sighting element with respect to a base, for example barrel 16 of gun 10.

[0026]FIG. 8 illustrates an adjustable portion 190 of a sighting apparatus. Portion 190 includes a ring 192 mounted on a base 194. At a top 196 of ring 192, element 108 is mounted at first end 110 to an elevation adjust 198. An adjusting member 200 is configured to raise and lower element 108 within ring 192, causing an accurate range of a gun to be adjusted. In alternative embodiments, adjusted member 200 is configured to raise and lower element 108 using one of a threaded member, a set screw mechanism, a pin and sleeve, and an placement of notches within member 200 that are configured to retain element 108 in place. It is important to note that portion 170 (shown in FIG. 7) and portion 190 are interchangeable with respect to a mounting location on a gun. That is, either can operate as a front or rear sight as long as the other is in the opposite location.

[0027]FIG. 9 is a side view 210 of the ring 112 of the sighting apparatus of FIG. 7. A side view of ring 192 is similar except that elevation adjust 198 and adjusting member 200 are visible. FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view 220 of the sighting elements of FIGS. 7 and 8 taken along line x-x. View 220 illustrates that the elements described herein may have a circular cross section, shown by element 222, or a rectangular cross section, shown by element 224.

[0028] The sighting apparatus described herein consists of two elements, one used for the foresight and the other used as a back sight. One of the elements is suspended or hung within a ring mounted on a weapon and points downward, the other points upward. The elements are situated a distance apart and therefore one element is in front of the other when used to aim a weapon towards a target. In such a configuration, neither element obscures or hides the other. In use, the target is “squeezed” between the elements, and provided an advantage over known sights in that the target is effectively contained between the sighting elements.

[0029] The simple shape and orientation of the sighting elements enables the target to be contained within an area defined by the ring. If necessary, elements within the ring can be illuminated by known methods. While the invention has been described in terms of various specific embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the invention can be practiced with modification within the spirit and scope of the claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A sighting apparatus comprising: a ring attached to a base; a first vertical element extending upward from the base, said first element having a first end attached to the base; and a second vertical element suspended within said ring by a first end, said apparatus configured such that aligning a second end of said first vertical element with a second end of said second vertical element provides sighting for a weapon.
 2. A sighting apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said ring is located between an operator of the weapon and said first vertical element.
 3. A sighting apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said first vertical element is located between an operator of the weapon and said ring.
 4. A sighting apparatus according to claim I wherein said second end of said first vertical element is a pointed tip.
 5. A sighting apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said second end of said second vertical element is rectangular.
 6. A sighting apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said second end of said second vertical element is a pointed tip.
 7. A sighting apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said ring comprises an elevation adjust configured to raise and lower said second sighting element.
 8. A sighting apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said elevation adjust is configured to raise and lower said second sighting element using at least one of a threaded member, a set screw mechanism, a pin and sleeve arrangement, and a series of notches within said elevation adjust that are configured to hold said second sighting element in place.
 9. A method of sighting a weapon, the weapon having a sighting apparatus mounted thereon consisting of two elements mounted a distance apart, the first element being a vertical element mounted on the weapon at a first end and extending upward from the weapon, the second element being a vertical element suspended within a ring, the second element mounted to the ring at a first end, said method comprising: aligning a second end of the first element with a target; and adjusting a horizontal position of the weapon until a second end of the second element aligns with the second end of the first element.
 10. A method according to claim 9 further comprising adjusting a height of at least one of the first element and the second element using an elevation adjust in order to adjust the weapon based upon a distance to the target.
 11. A sighting element comprising: a ring mounted on a base; a sighting element suspending vertically downward within said ring; and an elevation adjust within said ring, said adjust comprising an adjusting member configured to raise and lower said sighting element within said ring. 